terrestrial
adjective
-ˈres-chəl
Did you know?
Terrestrial might be a pretty down-to-earth word, but some of its relatives are out of this world. "Terrestrial" first appeared in English in the 15th century and derives from the Latin root terra, which means "earth." In the mid-1800s "extra-" was added to "terrestrial," giving us "extraterrestrial," an adjective that can be used to describe things (including science fiction creatures) that come from space. "Terrestrial" shares the "-al" suffix with "celestial," which was first used in the 14th century. Not surprisingly, "celestial" ("of or relating to the sky or visible heavens") traces back to the Latin for sky, "caelum."
Examples of terrestrial in a Sentence
Glenn Katz, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
In these follow-up simulations, a small star, about three quarters the mass of the sun, is birthed out of the dense gas with planetesimals—kilometer-scale precursors to terrestrial planets—in tow.
—Conor Feehly, Scientific American, 4 Mar. 2025
While epiphytic orchids may tolerate or even enjoy a dry, dormant period, terrestrial species, in general, need to be kept moist throughout the year.
—Dawn Pettinelli, Hartford Courant, 1 Mar. 2025
Declination on a celestial globe is analogous to latitude on a terrestrial globe.
—Joe Rao, Space.com, 7 Feb. 2025
See All Example Sentences for terrestrial
Cite this Entry
“Terrestrial.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/terrestrial. Accessed 12 Mar. 2025.
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terrestrial
adjective
-ˈres-chəl
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